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Have you ever been clipped, hit, or knocked down by a close-passing motorist?
If so, tell us about it (or each time if more than once).
Location (streets, directions of travel)
Type of location
Lane locations
Approximate speeds of motorist and you
Did you swerve left?
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Nope. But have been hit from behind.
I always was a curve buster!
I thought this would amuse you, Peter.
Everyone who supports a minimum 3 foot passing law (motorists passing cyclist), and I dare say that represents the vast majority of cyclists, is in the boat of worrying way more about close passes than I do.
Have you ever been clipped, hit, or knocked down by a close-passing motorist?
you mean while I was riding a bicycle?
you mean while I was riding a bicycle?
Yes.
i ride mere inches from big trucks, buses, cars, trucks, etc. Never an issue. I think those of us that ride daily in traffic, and that have an extensive messenger background, are far less prone to being clipped, as we are highly situationally aware of everything around us.
one of my most favorite traffic rushes was riding my narrow (18") flatbar fixie, with about 2" on each side, just enough for my shoulders to brush aloing the sides of both truck containers. I passed thru (in between them) doing about 40kms/h.
How does that work, when you want the same amount of space between you and the car and additionally feel that you need an additional three feet of clearance to your right?
Are these folks, that you claim are more worried than you are, worrying more than you are despite the fact that you feel that your mere presence on the road should make motorists slow down, and shift lanes?
Are those folks worrying more than you are despite the fact that they aren't "weaving around like a lunatic on a bike" trying to gain the attention of cars that you fear are going to pass you too closely (less than three feet)?
Are those folks worrying more than you are despite the fact that they aren't frantically making the "SLOW/STOP" sign to try and gain the attention of cars that you fear are going to pass you too closely (less than three feet)?
It doesn't add up Serge.
Quick question Pete... do you regularly now ride a bike in high speed traffic situations? (traffic moving at over 40MPH... just as a point of reference?)
What do you do with all this 'data' you collect, Serge? Are we going to see a comprehensive scientific paper on the attitudes of bikeforum members, with full statistical analysis, or do you just XXXXXXX over them?
When I'm passing slower traffic, I'm much more comfortable with close passing distances than I am when someone from behind me comes blowing by inches away 30+ mph faster than me.
Frankly, for decades it did not bother me at all, but since I started learning about acting and being treated differently, it has. So in a sense it's kind of self-induced, I know. But there it is.
Yes, weekly.
What bearing does that have on Serge's contradictory statements?
Because I was sorta under the impression that you mostly rode off road... in which case you might not understand what it was like to feel the brush of a fast, close passing motorist.
Just for the sake of full disclosure... I very rarely ride off road, and have not developed the skills to do so properly.
I also have not examined the breadth of the statements made by HH... so I cannot conjecture on the bearing of his statements...
On February 18th of this year, I was riding down a winding canyon road at 40 mph with a group of 10 other cyclists. There was no usable shoulder, and at that speed I was close to the speed limit, so I was "taking the lane".
Unfortunately, a moron in a pickup towing a trailer decided he could pass me, despite a double yellow line and an upcoming blind left hand curve. He miscalculated how fast I was going, and how long/wide his trailer was, and I suppose he panicked a bit as we approached the blind left curve with him in the oncoming lane.
As he swung back into my lane, the wider wheel well section of his trailer hit me, and put me on the ground at 40 mph. Thankfully, nothing was broken...except for the bike, and every article of clothing I was wearing. Between the ambulance ride, emergency room visit, follow-up care, and equipment losses, the guy made a $25,000 mistake. He also lied to the cops about his insurance coverage, so by now they've likely suspended his license and vehicle registration.
So, despite HH's assertions that taking the lane confers some sort of "Cloak of Invincibility", I remain personally unconvinced. Not that I'll change my actions...just be more vigilant (I'd forgotten my Take a Look mirror that day...one of the few times in the last few years I've ridden without it).
Well, I just got my rear rim replaced due to this very thing, as well as a ferw other torn and/or broken parts.
I was riding up a quiet residential street with no on street parking. It's a 25mph street and I was likely just a few mph below that. I was no less than 4 feet from the curb, which would put me a few inches to the left of where an autos right tire would track. I know I was about 4 feet because I was to the left of the stream of "garbage water" that the trash truck had left for me to smell just a few hours previous, and the dark stain from that "water" is ever present still. Anyhow, I was pedaling along at a good speed and the next thing I know I was falling to my left and saw the grill of a car behind me as they turned onto a side street. I fell, tumbled, rolled, bled, cussed, kicked, screamed, and finally pulled myself up off the ground - only to see a little red car speeding off in the distance down that side street. My first thought was to hop on my bike and chase them down... then I found that was not going to happen since my rear rim was now a work of abstract art.
I used what water I had left to clean myself up. Then I knocked on someones door and told them what happened and asked if I could use their phone to call for some help.
No police report or none of that stuff since it's quite pointless after what all had transpired.
After thinking about it for a while it occured to me that a right turning motorist coming up from behind me and turned right and hit my rear tire. Kind of odd but what the hell...
So.... there you have it.
I was once hit by a side view mirror of a SUV. It pissed me off at the time but I don't (and didn't then) think it was intentional. I think it was just your typical incompetent SUV driver.
I've had several close calls but only once in my life do I think a motorist actually tried to hit me. Fortunately, I moved to the right at precisely the right time and the jackass missed.
once was more or less centered in the lane on jhonson road heading west. Older man who had on horse blinders (medical sunglasses they give you when they dilate your eyes for various test. These things have warnigns on them about driving or operating heavy equipment. He was driving left of center all but straddling the center line. As he passed me he clipped me with his mirror on my left elbow. This knocked my arm off my handle bars (bmx bike) at this point his mirror hit my handle grip left side and lifted my rear tire off the ground cause my bike to swing left in to his car and that did about $1200+ in damage to his Lincoln town car. He started to drive off and would have done so had a guy on a motor cycle not pulled in front of him to force him to stop. He said and i quote "Im so sorry i did not even see you" ?I replied with something about well maybe if you were not waring these pieces of sh.. you'd be able to see. This was mid day so the sun was over head or behind not in front and blinding. No rain no fog no nothing to prevent him from seeing me other than his crap med sun glasses.
He was charged with reckless driving.
If you've been hit, you haven't been passed ... you've been HIT, PERIOD.
Yes I've been run over, and how do you tell what caused it when the bike is crumpled, you don't remember anything due to head trauma, and the driver never stops?
Are you assuming that anytime you're hit by a car that you're able to analyze exactly what happened when and why? DON'T KID YOURSELF.
You cannot call being hit by a car: "Close Passing", because if he hit's you and keeps going ... I call that being RUN OVER or RUN DOWN, not 'passed'.
Please Explain The Purpose Of This Poll because I sure can't see any.
what's the purpose of this poll?
the purpose is to purpetuate helemt heads' "nervous nellie, the the sky is falling" bicycling hysteria;
where he tries to convince riders they should be in the center of the lane to slow down overtaking cars, on quiet, country roads with good sight lines, EVEN roads like this one.....
helemt head appears to be a hysterical, fearful bicyclist intent on fearmongering his pet 'fear from the rear' exageration and obsession.
On February 18th of this year, I was riding down a winding canyon road at 40 mph with a group of 10 other cyclists. There was no usable shoulder, and at that speed I was close to the speed limit, so I was "taking the lane".
Unfortunately, a moron in a pickup towing a trailer decided he could pass me, despite a double yellow line and an upcoming blind left hand curve. He miscalculated how fast I was going, and how long/wide his trailer was, and I suppose he panicked a bit as we approached the blind left curve with him in the oncoming lane.
As he swung back into my lane, the wider wheel well section of his trailer hit me, and put me on the ground at 40 mph. Thankfully, nothing was broken...except for the bike, and every article of clothing I was wearing. Between the ambulance ride, emergency room visit, follow-up care, and equipment losses, the guy made a $25,000 mistake. He also lied to the cops about his insurance coverage, so by now they've likely suspended his license and vehicle registration.
So, despite HH's assertions that taking the lane confers some sort of "Cloak of Invincibility", I remain personally unconvinced. Not that I'll change my actions...just be more vigilant (I'd forgotten my Take a Look mirror that day...one of the few times in the last few years I've ridden without it).
I've never claimed that taking the lane confers "some sort of 'Cloak of Invincibility'" or anything of the sort, and I really don't appreciate such blatant misrepresentation of what I've said. I've only said that I firmly believe that in many cases a cyclist's odds of avoiding collision are better further left than where most cyclists ride, further right. That doesn't mean that morons won't do what they did to you in this case.
You've alluded to this before, but this is the first detailed account I've encountered. I'm really glad it didn't turn out worse for you.
The only way I can think of to avoid something like this is what you already mentioned: maintaining good rearward situational awareness, for which a mirror is indispensable. It's very likely that with a mirror you could have seen the moron approaching from behind, known how long he was there, and detected his apparent frustration and lack of clarity about what to do. Many motorists are literally dumbfounded when they encounter a cyclist up ahead in the road, and the cyclist giving them a few pointers in real time can be very helpful. One of the most important advantages of maintaining good rearward situational awareness is it gives you the opportunity to convey that you have it (the good rearward situational awareness) to the driver behind you. That is, you can convey: "I know you're there, but I know what I'm doing, and I'm riding HERE anyway, please be patient". It's surprising how easy it is to convey all that with some combination of lane positioning adjustment, and perhaps a look back and/or a hand motion. And in the unlikely event that he ignores all that and tries a bonehead move anyway, at least with a mirror you have some advance notice and have a better chance of taking safe evasive action.
Treat your mirror like an Amex card.
Anyway, again, I'm glad you're okay.
If you've been hit, you haven't been passed ... you've been HIT, PERIOD.
Yes I've been run over, and how do you tell what caused it when the bike is crumpled, you don't remember anything due to head trauma, and the driver never stops?
Are you assuming that anytime you're hit by a car that you're able to analyze exactly what happened when and why? DON'T KID YOURSELF.
You cannot call being hit by a car: "Close Passing", because if he hit's you and keeps going ... I call that being RUN OVER or RUN DOWN, not 'passed'.
Please Explain The Purpose Of This Poll because I sure can't see any.
I see your point about the apparent contradiction in referring to someone who clips you as a "close-passer", since he hit you. But, then, he did at least attempt to pass you (very) closely... so doesn't that still make him a "close-passer"?
Semantics aside, the point of this poll is to get a feel for how common it is for at least the group of cyclists who respond to this poll to have been clipped by someone attempting to pass them too closely.
The genesis of all this stems from the fact that the cycling practices I use and advocate include attempting to achieve good/safe passing distances by faster traffic coming from behind, and I've been accused of being a hysterical, fear mongering nervous Nellie for doing that.
But I have to say that the percentage of those responding so far that have been hit or clipped during a close pass attempt is much higher than I anticipated.
And I appreciate the stories. Keep 'em coming. I think they're helpful.
Never, but I don't ride over in the gutter either, so it is unlikely that I'll be hit.
Never, but I don't ride over in the gutter either, so it is unlikely that I'll be hit.
Can you expand on this a bit? I'm pretty sure I know what you mean, but I don't want to make any assumptions.
The uninitiated might not understand and may ask: doesn't riding in the gutter put you further from the passing motorists, thus making it less likely for you to be clipped? Why do you attribute never being clipped to not riding in the gutter?
Can you expand on this a bit? I'm pretty sure I know what you mean, but I don't want to make any assumptions.
The uninitiated might not understand and may ask: doesn't riding in the gutter put you further from the passing motorists, thus making it less likely for you to be clipped? Why do you attribute never being clipped to not riding in the gutter?
Id say that its do to being further out in the road allowing escape room. Riding centerish in the lane driver comes up behind begins pass but does not give enough room rider moves to their right increasing the distance between them during the pass.
Same thing ive said dozens of times about a more centered lane position. It does not help to make a driver pass you more safely but gives you a route to escape . I ride foot or so from center of lane this prevents a car trying a pass on my right (seen that happen once). So riding some what right of center in the lane in various places seems to be the best way for me.
I was riding up a major suburban arterial, fairly fast (20 + mph) when a group of Yahoos came up beside me in a pickup truck. They were teenagers (as was I) and passenger yahoo stuck his arm out and grabbed my helmet. This situation continued for about a block, and then whooping it up passenger yahoo let go and they sped off.
I didn't report the assault (I was young and foolish, I would definitely report it now), nor did I cuss out said yahoos. I was pretty much just concentrating on not dying. Fortunately my 'skitching' experience did not result in a crash.
Gah! It's amazing what you can get through with a little luck.
I'm not sure if this qualifies, but they were definitely too close :eek:
I see your point about the apparent contradiction in referring to someone who clips you as a "close-passer", since he hit you. But, then, he did at least attempt to pass you (very) closely... so doesn't that still make him a "close-passer"?
Semantics aside, the point of this poll is to get a feel for how common it is for at least the group of cyclists who respond to this poll to have been clipped by someone attempting to pass them too closely.
The genesis of all this stems from the fact that the cycling practices I use and advocate include attempting to achieve good/safe passing distances by faster traffic coming from behind, and I've been accused of being a hysterical, fear mongering nervous Nellie for doing that.
But I have to say that the percentage of those responding so far that have been hit or clipped during a close pass attempt is much higher than I anticipated.
And I appreciate the stories. Keep 'em coming. I think they're helpful.
If someone drives up behind a cyclist, fails to notice them, and hits them (a la nova's reply), that cannot really be labeled a failed pass, right? That is an instance of a driver failing to notice a cyclist in the first place. Does this poll only address close passes? What about the rest of hit-from-behind incidents?
Robert
I was brushed by a car a couple of years ago in St. John's, Newfoundland. I was riding about 35 km/h on Elizabeth Avenue between New Cove and Torbay Roads (a four lane street with strip malls along it) about 3 feet from the curb and a car driver was so afraid of going anywhere near the centre lane of the road that she thought she would rather clip me with her mirror instead. Fortunately she was driving a Saturn else she would have had a big dent where I punched her rear quarter panel.
does this poll include unsafe passes while riders are in the middle of the lane?
do you even consider that a possibility while riding centered in the lane, head?
because close passes happen, cyclists get hit, regardless of lane position.
Just the other day I heard something approaching from the rear at a high rate of speed. It turned out to be a meteoroid. Luckily, I was taking a centerish position in the lane and the space rock swerved around me at the last second. Whew! That was close.
Everyone who supports a minimum 3 foot passing law (motorists passing cyclist), and I dare say that represents the vast majority of cyclists, is in the boat of worrying way more about close passes than I do.
Brother, I was with you in the beginning. I've never been hit by a close-passer, and I never worry about it.
But I support a minimum 3-foot passing law. If you don't, you aren't supporting the vast majority of cyclists who prefer it, including me.
It's not all about only your own desires and preferences. An "army of one" is a misnomer. You should support all cyclists, not just those who think like you do, my good friend.
But I have to say that the percentage of those responding so far that have been hit or clipped during a close pass attempt is much higher than I anticipated.
and how are you going to account for those cyclists that have been hit during a close pass attempt and can't participate in your poll because they are now dead?
....yet another useless poll.
Just the other day I heard something approaching from the rear at a high rate of speed. It turned out to be a meteoroid. Luckily, I was taking a centerish position in the lane and the space rock swerved around me at the last second. Whew! That was close.
Your helmet saved your life!
Can you expand on this a bit? I'm pretty sure I know what you mean, but I don't want to make any assumptions.
The uninitiated might not understand and may ask: doesn't riding in the gutter put you further from the passing motorists, thus making it less likely for you to be clipped? Why do you attribute never being clipped to not riding in the gutter?
IOW, the trolling pollster got a bite and is now trying to reel him in to provide "confirmation" of the OP's approved answer.
Two lane road with a 25 mph limit in a small town, no shoulders and curbed. I was hugging the curb as close as possible when a tractor trailer pulling a tandem started passing. He gave a workable gap but then cut in prematurely. The tailgate of the last tandem hit my handle bars, drove me into the curb and over the bars I went, left hand and helmet taking the brunt of the fall. This happened right in front of the police station. I got the trailer number and people behind stopped and said they'd get the tag number...Walked into the police station gave the trailer number and carrier name and they contacted the local terminal. The driver returned as did the folks that witnessed the accident. The driver of the tractor was an acquaintance. Anyway, medical bills (a few stitches), a new bike were covered by their insurance and the insurance company kicked in some more for my trouble (which I didn't request).
Brother, I was with you in the beginning. I've never been hit by a close-passer, and I never worry about it.
But I support a minimum 3-foot passing law. If you don't, you aren't supporting the vast majority of cyclists who prefer it, including me.
It's not all about only your own desires and preferences. An "army of one" is a misnomer. You should support all cyclists, not just those who think like you do, my good friend.
I oppose 3 foot passing laws because I think they reinforce widespread notions out there about the inherent dangers of cycling on roads. I think they bring the wrong kind of attention to cycling in terms of promoting cycling.
Two lane road with a 25 mph limit in a small town, no shoulders and curbed. I was hugging the curb as close as possible when a tractor trailer pulling a tandem started passing. He gave a workable gap but then cut in prematurely. The tailgate of the last tandem hit my handle bars, drove me into the curb and over the bars I went, left hand and helmet taking the brunt of the fall. This happened right in front of the police station. I got the trailer number and people behind stopped and said they'd get the tag number...Walked into the police station gave the trailer number and carrier name and they contacted the local terminal. The driver returned as did the folks that witnessed the accident. The driver of the tractor was an acquaintance. Anyway, medical bills (a few stitches), a new bike were covered by their insurance and the insurance company kicked in some more for my trouble (which I didn't request).
Where in Delaware was this? (I'm assuming Delaware because of your location)
Yes, I have been clipped, not hard enough to knock me down.
The elderly motorist angrily stated that he was "showing me I should be over at the side of the road".
Two lane road with a 25 mph limit in a small town, no shoulders and curbed. I was hugging the curb as close as possible when a tractor trailer pulling a tandem started passing. He gave a workable gap but then cut in prematurely. The tailgate of the last tandem hit my handle bars, drove me into the curb and over the bars I went, left hand and helmet taking the brunt of the fall. This happened right in front of the police station. I got the trailer number and people behind stopped and said they'd get the tag number...Walked into the police station gave the trailer number and carrier name and they contacted the local terminal. The driver returned as did the folks that witnessed the accident. The driver of the tractor was an acquaintance. Anyway, medical bills (a few stitches), a new bike were covered by their insurance and the insurance company kicked in some more for my trouble (which I didn't request).
Well good end result at least. Your lucky you were not hurt more seriously than you were. How ever had you been more centered in the lane you could have had room to escape with the added buffer zone to your right. Your accident is a good example of a driver trying to do every thing right and still getting you.
I do not beleive for a split second that a centered lane position causes driver to suddenly pass you safely but it does give you more room to escape if they don't or try to but don't.
I oppose 3 foot passing laws because I think they reinforce widespread notions out there about the inherent dangers of cycling on roads. I think they bring the wrong kind of attention to cycling in terms of promoting cycling.
wow. opposing a widely lobbied for and almost universally appreciated (in the bicycling community) law because it sends the wrong message..... you ARE a piece of work, head. The wrong kind of attention? What do you mean, drivers legally needing to pass cyclists with at least 3 feet of space????
you somehow think a 3 foot passing rule discourages bicycling participation???
Head, in case you haven't noticed...your thread is about being clipped in a close pass. YOU are concerned about close passing...obsessively so.
you try to create your own 3 foot rule.....
hypocrite.
If someone drives up behind a cyclist, fails to notice them, and hits them (a la nova's reply), that cannot really be labeled a failed pass, right? That is an instance of a driver failing to notice a cyclist in the first place. Does this poll only address close passes? What about the rest of hit-from-behind incidents?
Robert
If someone drives up beside and past a cyclist, but fails to notice them, can that be labeled a "pass"? That would also be an instance of a driver failing to notice a cyclist in the first place, though if he happens to not him it's easy to not know that was the case.
In other words, is the driver's awareness of the cyclist's presence relevant in order to determine if it is a "pass"?
If someone drives up beside and past a cyclist, but fails to notice them, can that be labeled a "pass"? That would also be an instance of a driver failing to notice a cyclist in the first place, though if he happens to not him it's easy to not know that was the case.
In other words, is the driver's awareness of the cyclist's presence relevant in order to determine if it is a "pass"?
If nobody gets run over, call it whatever you want.
I oppose 3 foot passing laws because I think they reinforce widespread notions out there about the inherent dangers of cycling on roads. I think they bring the wrong kind of attention to cycling in terms of promoting cycling.
If you are worried about "widespread notions," then ride without a helmet... it's been said that helmets have done more to ruin the image of cycling than any other thing... both from the "dork" effect, and that of implying cycling is unsafe.
Yes, I have been clipped, not hard enough to knock me down.
The elderly motorist angrily stated that he was "showing me I should be over at the side of the road".
Hit on purpose? I hope criminal charges were pursued. This kind of shiat can't go unchallenged - even if it is just an angry old coot.
If you are worried about "widespread notions," then ride without a helmet... it's been said that helmets have done more to ruin the image of cycling than any other thing... both from the "dork" effect, and that of implying cycling is unsafe.
I've never had anyone comment either way (except for other cyclists) whether I was or was not wearing a helmet. Now riding in the middle of the lane versus in the shoulder/edge of the lane is a whole different story when it comes to comments (and police attention :)).
wow. opposing a widely lobbied for and almost universally appreciated (in the bicycling community) law because it sends the wrong message..... you ARE a piece of work, head. The wrong kind of attention? What do you mean, drivers legally needing to pass cyclists with at least 3 feet of space????
you somehow think a 3 foot passing rule discourages bicycling participation???
Head, in case you haven't noticed...your thread is about being clipped in a close pass. YOU are concerned about close passing...obsessively so.
you try to create your own 3 foot rule.....
hypocrite.
All the 'experts' here selfishly dont care or just dont
realize for every superserious,'expert' cyclist there are
about 500 more ride occasionally types and 2000 more
recreational/sidewalk only-ers they feel dont need
to be represented in thier crazed conquest. The 'rules'
should only benefit those who are not scared to powerweave
their way down I-95 and show motorists how it should be :rolleyes:
I know Id be very angry if a driver gave my 10 year old
niece 3' ft of room :rolleyes:
I oppose 3 foot passing laws because I think they reinforce widespread notions out there about the inherent dangers of cycling on roads. I think they bring the wrong kind of attention to cycling in terms of promoting cycling.
I, on the other hand, think a mandatory safe distance law when passing a bicycle reinforces not only the notion that bicycles do belong on the road, but that their presence there should be considered by any and all motorists. It also shows (to me) that a person on a bicycle is a more vulnerable "object" than a person in a vehicle and should be treated as such. In fact, these are not only just "notions" but are fact and I can't see how any reasonable person could argue otherwise.
As far as bringing the wrong type of attention to cycling in regards to promoting cycling, I think the "sport" of cycling and it's long history of antics does that. The only thing a lay-person ever hears about "professional cycling" is the wide spread drug use. So when they see a person on a bicycle dressed to mimic those people there's a good chance that their "notion" of said cyclist is pretty derogatory from the get-go.
The real humerous thing about this "notion" that you speak of, is that if a person who was not a cyclist came in here and read how you so called "bicycling advocates" act and talk towards one another, that would not only make them laugh hard enough to need to seek medical treatment afterwards, but would more than reinforce the (as it is) widespread notion that bicyclists are nothing more than a bunch of arrogant sissy boys who actually do not belong in the greater public in the first place.
I've never had anyone comment either way (except for other cyclists) whether I was or was not wearing a helmet. Now riding in the middle of the lane versus in the shoulder/edge of the lane is a whole different story when it comes to comments (and police attention :)).
Really... amazing, ask any woman non cyclist if they would like to wear a helmet just like yours. Of course no one says anything to your face... they just love the cute styrofoam on your head and the skin tight shorts... :rolleyes: Let's face it we wear that stuff for a reason, not hardly for a fashion statement. (although there was this brief flash in the '80s when bike shorts were a disco thing... :eek: )
And as far as implying the "non safety" of cycling, just what do you think a helmet says... that there is some reason for head protection... some reason that did not exist say before the '70s... when no one wore helmets.
Really... amazing, ask any woman non cyclist if they would like to wear a helmet just like yours. Of course no one says anything to your face... they just love the cute styrofoam on your head and the skin tight shorts... :rolleyes: Let's face it we wear that stuff for a reason, not hardly for a fashion statement. (although there was this brief flash in the '80s when bike shorts were a disco thing... :eek: )
And as far as implying the "non safety" of cycling, just what do you think a helmet says... that there is some reason for head protection... some reason that did not exist say before the '70s... when no one wore helmets.
There was a small blurb in Mens Health magazine a year ago (maybe more) about impressing women. One of the ways was to put a bicycle helmet in the back seat of your car, even if you don't own a bicycle. Aparantly (according to the blurb) when a lady takes notice of the helmet it shows her that you not only enjoy outside activities, but that you are also concerned about your own safety, which heightens your "will be around for a long helthy life" points with her.
Really... amazing, ask any woman non cyclist if they would like to wear a helmet just like yours. Of course no one says anything to your face... they just love the cute styrofoam on your head and the skin tight shorts... :rolleyes: Let's face it we wear that stuff for a reason, not hardly for a fashion statement. (although there was this brief flash in the '80s when bike shorts were a disco thing... :eek: )
And as far as implying the "non safety" of cycling, just what do you think a helmet says... that there is some reason for head protection... some reason that did not exist say before the '70s... when no one wore helmets.
I'm not sure what you are getting at. My point was that motorists don't seem to even notice if I'm wearing a helmet or not. I sometimes do, and sometimes do not and have never heard a comment about what is or is not on my head, ever. I've also never heard any comments about what I'm wearing, which again varies from a skin tight jersey and shorts to jeans and a t-shirt.
I've had positive comments from drivers about my Planet Bike Superflash... also, negative comments about me taking the middle of the lane quite frequently from drivers as well. I must not know the secret Helmet Head placating hand wave :rolleyes:
opposing passing clearance laws because they 'send the wrong message' is daft.
My wife was knocked down by a passer. he cleared her by ~18" but had a 2 foot out wing mirror for load towing. The mirror nailed her helmet. He drove on.
Rightfully so.
Your self-admitted fear of riding in and around traffic causes you to be extremely, irrationally, fearful of being passed at less than three feet, to fear motorists so much that you feel you need to control them to be safe, to fear having a blowout and swerving into traffic, etc.
Your posts simply ooze fear.
Pete... you know what is really amazing is that you use the same "fear card" on me too...
HH and I ride within just a few miles of each other in roughly the same area with roughly the same traffic... could it be that we are simply both reacting to the same traffic situations that are unique in our environment that may not exist in other places.
I know there is no way I can get out of my neighborhood for instance without dealing with 50MPH+ traffic, freeway ramps, high speed, wide radius turns and vanishing bike lanes. I also know that southern California is very car centric.
Is it possible that HH is expressing issues regarding dealing with very aggressive traffic, and how he handles it?
I know these conditions do not exist everywhere... I do travel and I take my bike when I can, I have seen some very nice cycling situations in other places... I also know that the back country in San Diego can also be quite nice to ride... but right in the heart of the dense urban area known locally as the "the golden triangle" it is not exactly bicycle friendly.
So pull out the "fear card," then come and ride a few miles and see what kinda crap really goes down.
Personally I think we all need to keep things in perspective. I know I see few bikes at the local schools, where as others report full bike racks in their towns.
Life is not the same everywhere. It might be pretty boring if it were.
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